Type-writing machine.



' J. A. B. SMITH.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION nun APR. 11. Ian;

Patentvd Doc. 10, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

J. A. B. SMITH.

TYPE WRIHNG MACH|NE..

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. 1am.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE A. B. SMITH, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Application filed April 17, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JESSE A. B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TypelVriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to typewriting machines, and is herein disclosed as applied to an Underwood typewriting machine having attachments and modifications of structure along the lines of those disclosed in Patent No. 1,132,055, to Lester A. Wernery and Jesse A. B. Smith, dated March 16, 1915.

In such machines the usual revolving platen of the Underwood typewriter is mounted in a supplementary swinging frame, so that it may be swung to and from the usual feed rolls, while, at the same time, the platen remains connected to the usual line-space mechanism. In such machines also, there is provided usually a carbon paper carriage which is mounted on a rearward extension of the usual platen carriage, so that the carbon paper carriage travels step by step along with the platen,the con nections in the mechanism being such that when the platen is swung away from the feed rolls, a series of webs which normally pass around beneath the platen may be drawn straight forward over or through the carbon paper carriage without moving it, because the straightening of the web, made possible by the swinging up of the platen, practically eliminates the gripping friction which the webs usually have on the carbon paper.

In such machines, in addition to the usual fan-fold web, there is frequently employed a record sheet, which is advantageously written on in condensed form and which usually lies next to the platen.

In the co-pending case, No. 146,557, filed February 5, 1917, special holding devices and guiding members are shown provided for holding the said record sheet clear of the fan-fold or other webs and work-sheets to facilitate such holding of either or both. The present invention is illustrated as an improvement on the last-named application, and includes not only improvements in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

Serial No. 162,732.

the holding devices but also in other devices for guiding the record or other webs.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying one form'of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the stop seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of the principal parts related to my invention, so far as they are related to handling a record sheet, which is nearest the platen.

Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, of many of the parts shown therein, but show ing a catch swung to releasing position to enable the platen to be swung away from the feed rolls.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of most of the parts shown in Fig. 4:, with the platen swung up to straighten the Web, and the carbon sheets pulled back.

Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged detail showing a gripping arm for gripping the sheet against the paper table at a point above the platen.

In an Underwood typewriting machine, types 1 strike against the front side of a platen 2, through a printing ribbon, not shown herein, the platen being revolubly mounted in a carriage 3, and adapted to be rotated by the usual line-space lever 4 which is effective on the usual line-space ratchet wheel 5.

In the present machine, the platen 2 forms part of a swinging frame 6, which is pivoted on a rod 7, mounted in the front part of the carriage, so that the platen may be swung upwardly and forwardly to the position seen in Fig. 5. In the normal position of the platen, there are held a series of sheets or webs 8, 9 and 10 against the platen by means of the usual feed rolls 11 and 12, the platen being held against springing upward by means of a latch 13, so that the feed rolls 11 and 12 may bear against the platen with any necessary pressure. To erinit the webs 8, 9 and 10 to be adjusted to feed forward properly, the feed rolls 11 and 12 may be cast off by means of the usual casting ofl' handle 14. if so desired, while the platen is in its normal writing position.

Not only do the webs 8, 9 and 10 pass around the platen, but there are usually threaded between them carbon sheets 15, 16 and 17, and also there is usually fed around with them a separate sheet 18 which may also be in the form of a web. In the usual operation of the machine, the webs 8, 9, 10 and 18 are threaded under the platen after swinging the platen up. The platen may be released by moving a handle or finger-piece 19 rearwardly, thereby swinging the latch 13 to ineffective position, and then the platen may be swung or displaced upwardly and forwardly into the Fig. 5 position, when the webs and carbon sheets may be easily introduced. The ends of the webs may be accurately adjusted against an end gage 20, which, by means of a thumb screw 21, is adjustably mounted on an extension 22 of the frame 6. The special record sheet 18 is usually carried around and under the platen at the same time, and is passed through an opening 23 at the upper end of the paper table 24, said opening being formed by a bar 25 which is suitably fastened behind the upper rear edge of the paper table, and is connected thereto by L shaped lugs 26, so that the record sheet 18 lying on the paper table 24 will naturally feed through the opening 23. The upper end 27 of the bar 25 is conveniently formed as a straight edge to form an end gage for adjusting the leading edge of the record sheet 18, or for accurately alining it by any cross lines ruled thereon.

The carbon sheets 15, 16 and 17, in this type of machine, are usually clipped to fiat bars 28 which project alternately and successively higher from the opposite sides of a frame 29, so that the webs may be easily threaded between them. The frame 29 runs on wheels 30, which are journaled on the frame 29, and travel along ways 31 which project rea rwardly from the typewriter carriage and which are supported at their rear 7 ends by brackets 32 carrying wheels 33 "which run on a rear rail 34. The ways 31 are connected at their rear ends by a cross bar 35, and this structure enables the framework 31. 35, 31 to form an exceedingly light but rigid rearward extension of the typewriter carriage 3. The webs 8, 9 and 10 may drop at their rear ends over the bar 35.

'hen the record has been written on the webs: 10. 9 and 8, they may be drawn forward together with the record sheet after the platen is thrown up to the Fig. 5 position. This drawing them forward will usually pull the carbon sheets 15, 16 and 17 and the carriage forward at the same time, by friction.

Owing to the fact that in the Fig. 5 position the webs 8, 9 and 10 are practically straight, the carbon sheets may be moved rearwardly to the point seen in Fig. 5 position, this being accomplished by pushing rcarwardly the frame 29 and the Whole carbon paper carriage therewith, said carbon paper carriage being formed, for this purpose, with a forwardly-extending handle 36, so as to enable the typist to adjust the carbon paper carriage without the necessity of reaching a long distance rearwardly, Then the typewriter plat-en frame may be thrown down to its Fig. 3 position, and latched firmly in place by pulling the fingerpiece 19 which springs forwardly under the tension of the spring 19 so that the catch 13 hooks firmly on the roll 37 by which it holds down the frame 6. This firmly holds the webs 8, 9 and 10 in place by cotiperation of the feed rolls 11 and 12 with the platen, and enables the webs to be torn off by means of knife 38 which is usually found in this type of machine. The webs and carbon sheets may then be fed forward in the usual manner, either by the line-space handle 4 or a platen knob 39, to bring the next printing line into position.

For simplicity of structure the webs 8, 9 and 10 are led over and above a rod 40, which extends across the machine, and has at the right-hand side thereof a latch (not shown herein) like the latch 13, which hooks over a roll similar to the roll 37 to insure firm holding of the platen in place at each end. The webs 8, 9 and 10 fall from the rod 40 onto a paper apron 41, which extends under the platen and guides the webs between the feed rolls 11 and 12.

In order to prevent the operative from pushing the carbon paper carriage too far to the rear, when the carbon paper is shifted to the Fig. 5 position, there is provided on one of the rails 31 a stop 42 which includes a body having lugs 43 which extend over and embrace both sides of a flat plate 44, forming the top part of the rail 31. This stop is positively held in proper position and withstands the shock of arresting the carbon paper carriage.

To obtain this result, the stop is provided with two plungers 45 which may be formed as downward extensions of a top 46. said plungers being normally drawn down by a spring 47, so that they engage the flat bar 44. The spring 47 occupies an opening 48 in. the body of the stop. and embraces a long neck 49 projecting downwardly from the top 46, in which neck is entered a screw 50 having a flanged head, so that when the screw 50 is screwed home, it compresses the spring 47 against the bottom of the opening 48. This makes the plungers 45 normally project from the body of the stop, so that they tend to enter registered holes 5] in the flat plate 44, with the result that both plungers engage said plate, and thus both may absorb the shock of arr sting the carbon paper carriage. The downward throw of the plungers 45 is limited by a top flange 51 which underlies the head 46.

In order to lift the plungers 45 to withdraw them into the body of the stop, so that the stop maybe shifted along the plate 44, the stop is provided with a finger-piece 52, which is pivoted on the body of the stop at 53, and includes a lug 54 lying between the body of the stop and the top 46, the lug being slotted to permit free movement of the plungers 45, 45, 49, and extended to the far side of the stop so that the far end of the lug 54 will have a large enough throw. When the finger-piece 52 is pressed against the side of the stop, the lug 54 lifts the top and with it the plungers 45, compressing the spring, and withdrawing the plungers into the body of the stop, so that the stop may be easily adjusted along the plate 44.

Since the handle 36, which is used for manipulating the carbon paper carriage, is at one side of said carriage, a single stop 42 on the rail 31 nearest the handle will be found usually suflicient.

In addition to the bars 28 to which the carbon paper is clipped, the carbon carriage preferably carries an adjustable chute in the shape of a pair of V-shaped plates 55, which are adapted to support the record sheet 18 clear of the carbon sheets 15, 16 and 17, and also clear of the carbon-carrying bars 28. The carbon paper carriage travels backwardly and forwardly to carry the carbon paper backward and forward, whereas the record sheet 18 is usually held stationary during such travel of the carbon paper, andthe record sheet is held clear by the chute, that is, it is held in such position that it will not interfere with the carbon paper carriage, or foul the carbon sheets.

In order to enable the V-shaped plates to be adjustable for various widths of record sheets, they are each mounted on a plate 56 which forms part of the carbon paper carriage. Each of these plates 56 is provided with a pair of slots 57 through which extend screws 58, threaded into the plate 59, which forms the main body of the carbon paper carriage,-the slots 57 enabling the screws 58 to lock the plates 56 to the plates 59, at any desired point within the limits of the slots 57.

In order to permit the V-shaped plates 55 to be moved out of the way, for the purpose of adjusting carbon sheets or webs, each plate 55 is formed on the inner end of a plate 60, which is hinged to an up-turned edge 61 of its plate 56, the edge 61 being inclined so that the V-shaped plates 55 form an inclined chute sloping toward the front of the machine. To form the hinges, each plate is provided with turned-over lugs 62 which embrace a rod 63. said rod forming a journal for turned-over lugs 64 which project from the plates 61. To prevent the chute-plates 55 from falling down onto the bars 20, each plate 60 is provided with a lug 65, which projects downwardly adjacent the lug 64, so that when the plate 60 is horizontal, the lug 65 will support the plate in horizontal position by striking against the inside of the plate 61. The chute-plates 55, as stated above, form a guide for the record sheet, holding it clear of the bars 28, and the turned-up edges 66 thereof form edge guides for the record sheet. The machine may also include the usual adjustable edge guides 67 for the fan-fold web, and the plate 61 may be prot'ided with an opening 67 to permit any extension 67' of the gage 67 to pass through it without interfering with the adjustability of chuteplates 55.

To enable a condensed record to be made easily on the record sheet 18, means are provided for holding the record sheet while the fan-fold web is drawn forward. This hold ing means may be in the form of a pair of fingers 68, which overlie shelf 24 and normally are completely clear of respective slots 69 therein,when the platen is in its normal writing position. For holding fingers 68 normally in this ineffective position, they are mounted on the front ends of rock arms or plates 70, which rock arms are fast on a shaft 71 extending transversely across the carriage within the roll edge 72 of the paper table 24.

Vhenever the latch 19 is in its forward position, seen in Figs. 1 and 3, in which it holds the platen down, the fingers are elevated. The latch or finger-picce 19 is pro- "ided with a pin 73, which, when the handle 19 is drawn forward, rides over a cam 74, and thereby rocks the shaft 71 to lift the fingers 68 upwardly. Said cam 74 is pivoted at 75 on an upturned-edge 76 of the plate 70, and is provided with a rocker 77, which rolls on the paper table 24, forming a rolling fulcrum about which the cam 74 turns when the finger-piece 19 is drawn forward, thus lifting the plates and the fingers 68.

The shaft 71 normally tends to throw the fingers 68 forcibly against the openings 69, being for this purpose constantly under tension of a spring 78. The shaft is journaled in bearings 79 at the back of the paper table. The fingers 68 are adapted to serve as an end gage for adjusting the record sheet when it is first inserted, as at Fig. 5, the leading edge of the sheet 18 abutting against the bends in the fingers, and the sheet being discernible by the operator through the openings 69. The record sheet passes beneath the fingers 68 and up under the bar 25, the fingers 68 being provided with upwardlyreaching diagonal extensions 80, which form guides extending behind and beneath the Ear 25, to guide the record sheet behind said The fingers 68 are made laterally adjustable on the plates to permit the fingers to approach closely the sides of the fan-fold web; each plate 70 being provided with an extension 81, in which is threaded a screw 82, which passes through a slot 83 in a side extension of the finger 68. The fingers 68 each include a bent portion 84, which extends down into the slot or depression 69, said bent portions being provided with a roughening at their turn where they engage the record sheet to firmly grip it, this roughening being shown in a large scale in Fig. 6 as consisting of a lattice-work marking 85.

In order to keep the platen constantly in mesh with the line-space mechanism, whether in its upper or lower position, it is geared thereto, as shown in the application aforesaid, by means of the pinion 86 on the rod 7, which meshes with a gear wheel 87 fast to the platen, and also with a gear wheel 88 fast to the stub axle 89 forming part of the line-space mechanism. In order to prevent the cam 74 from swinging out of position, it is held down by means of a lug 90, formed as an extension of the turned-up portion 76, which overlies the cam near its pivot 75, and thereby prevents it from sWinging up vertically above the range of the pin 73.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a paper table above the platen, a finger on said paper table for holding a Work-sheet, an extension on said table adapted to carry a work-sheet behind it, and an extension on said finger for guiding the work-sheet beneath the finger and behind said extension.

2. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a paper table above the platen, separately adjustable fingers on said paper table for holding a work-sheet, an extension on said paper table to carry a work-sheet behind it, and an extension on each of said fingers for guiding the work-sheet beneath the fingers and behind said extension.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen and feed rolls, of means for swinging said platen away from its feed rolls to enable work-sheets to extend straight past the platen, a catch normally holding said platen to its feed rolls, normally ineffective fingers for holding a work-sheet. and means for making said fingers effective by releasing said platen to swing it away from said feed rolls.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen and feed rolls, of means for swinging said platen away from its feed rolls to enable Worksheets to extend straight past the platen, a catch normally holding said platen to its feed rolls, normally ineffective fingers for holding a work-sheet, means for making said fingers effective by releasing said platen to swing it away from said feed rolls, a paper table, an extension on said paper table adapted to carry a work-sheet above it, and an'extension on said fingers adapted to carry another work-sheet beneath said extension of the paper table.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen and feed rolls therefor, of a catch normally holding said platen against said feed rolls, holding means for a work-sheet, a paper table against which said holding means holds said work-sheet, and a lever fulcrumed on said paper table and operated by said catch to control said holding means.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen and feed rolls, of a catch normally holding said laten against said feed rolls, a paper table, ngers for holding a work-sheet against said paper table, a spring normally tending to make said fingers effective to so hold the sheet, a lever fulcrumed on said paper table, and means operated by said catch for making said fingers ineffective by causing said catch to be effective on said rolling lever.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a platen therein, of a subsidiary carriage traveling 0n said first-named carriage, paper-holding devices forming part of said subsidiary carriage, and a chute forming part of said subsidiary carriage adapted to guide a work-sheet clear of the devices and other work-sheets.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage comprising a revoluble platen, of means for guiding a sheet of paper to said platen from behind, a sepa rate chute for guiding another sheet of paper, a plate forming part of said chute, and a hinge for said plate by which it is supported on said carriage, and about which it can be turned to permit paper beneath the chute to be adjusted.

9. In a typewriting machine. the combination with a platen and means for guiding a work-sheet to said platen from behind, of a plate comprising an edge gage for separately feeding another work-sheet to said platen, a plate on which said gage plate is pivotally mounted, and means for adjusting the last-named plate horizontally of the typewriter carriage.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and means for guiding a work-sheet to said platen from behind, of a plate comprising an edge gage for separately feeding another work-sheet to said platen, a plate on which said gage plate is pivotally mounted, means for adjusting the last-named plate horizontally of the typewriter carriage, and a separately adjustable edge gage for the first-named worksheet.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a carriage on which said platen is rotatably mounted, paper-feeding devices shiftable on said carriage, a chute forming part of said devices, means for holding a sheet of paper fixed with reference to said devices and beneath said chute, and a hinge around which said chute can be swung to permit a sheet of paper to be fixed to said devices.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage comprising a revoluble platen, of a supplementary carriage adapted to travel on said first carriage, devices for holding paper fast to said supplementary carriage, an edge gage adjustable on said supplementary carriage, and a hinge around which said edge gage may be swung out of the way to permit a sheet of paper to be adjusted independently of said gage.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage comprising a revoluble platen, of a supplementary carriage adapted to travel on said first carriage, devices for holding paper fast to said supplementary carriage, an edge gage shiftable on said supplementary carriage, a hinge around which said edge gage may be swung out of the way to permit a sheet of paper to be adjusted independently of said gage, a plate on which said gage is thus hinged, and means for adjusting said plate to adjust said gage.

14. In a typewriting machine, the com- 4( bination with a traveling carriage and a revoluble platen therein, of an edge gage for holding a work-sheet to said platen, a plate to which said edge gage is hinged, means for adjusting said plate longitudinally of said carriage, and a lug forming an extension of said edge gage to rest against said plate to support said edge gage in its normal position.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a revoluble platen, of carbon-sheet-holding devices movable on said carriage to adjust carbon sheets relatively to said platen, and a chute forming part of said devices adapted to guide a work-sheet clear of said devices.

JESSE A. B. SMITH.

Witnesses:

CATHERINE A. NEWELL, JENNIE P. THORNE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

